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Flavors of self-deception: Ontology and epidemiology

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 March 1997

Harold A. Sackeim
Affiliation:
Department of Biological Psychiatry, New York State Psychiatric Institute and Department of Psychiatry, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columba University, New York, NY 10032 has1@columbia.edu
Ruben C. Gur
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104 gur@bbl.psycha.upenn.edu

Abstract

Mele questions the prevalence and ontological status of strong forms of self-deception, as well as our attempt at experimental demonstration. Without validated indicators outside laboratory contexts, statements about prevalence are purely speculative. Conceptualizing self-deception without positing the motivated lack of awareness of a contradictory belief is unsatisfactory in dealing with issues of “agency,” that is, how can we stop the processing of threatening information unless we recognize that the information is threatening?

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Copyright
© 1997 Cambridge University Press

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